EP0460982A1 - Kernbrennstabbündelabstandhalter mit Dreiecksmuster und Anwendung in Kernbrennstabbündel - Google Patents

Kernbrennstabbündelabstandhalter mit Dreiecksmuster und Anwendung in Kernbrennstabbündel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0460982A1
EP0460982A1 EP91401204A EP91401204A EP0460982A1 EP 0460982 A1 EP0460982 A1 EP 0460982A1 EP 91401204 A EP91401204 A EP 91401204A EP 91401204 A EP91401204 A EP 91401204A EP 0460982 A1 EP0460982 A1 EP 0460982A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plates
grid
grid according
belt
grids
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91401204A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0460982B1 (de
Inventor
Stéphane Cachat
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Areva NP SAS
Orano Demantelement SAS
Original Assignee
Framatome SA
Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Framatome SA, Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires SA filed Critical Framatome SA
Publication of EP0460982A1 publication Critical patent/EP0460982A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0460982B1 publication Critical patent/EP0460982B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
    • G21C3/30—Assemblies of a number of fuel elements in the form of a rigid unit
    • G21C3/32—Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements
    • G21C3/34—Spacer grids
    • G21C3/356—Spacer grids being provided with fuel element supporting members
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
    • G21C3/30—Assemblies of a number of fuel elements in the form of a rigid unit
    • G21C3/32—Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements
    • G21C3/34—Spacer grids
    • G21C3/352—Spacer grids formed of assembled intersecting strips
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Definitions

  • the field concerned by the invention is that of nuclear fuel assemblies whose fuel rods are distributed at the nodes of a triangular network and it finds a particularly important application in fuel assemblies for reactors cooled and moderated with light water.
  • the fuel assemblies currently used in such reactors generally comprise a bundle of fuel rods (this term designating both rods loaded with fissile material and those loaded partially or completely with fertile material) and a beam holding structure comprising parts of 'upper and lower end connected by guide tubes which carry grids for holding fuel rods at the nodes of a regular network.
  • the grids are distributed along the assembly, at sufficiently close intervals to maintain a regular spacing between the rods over their entire length, in spite of the deformations caused by the irradiation, and to give the natural frequencies of vibration of the rods between two grids a high value, which avoids the excitation, by the refrigerant, of dangerous vibration regimes.
  • the first of these functions is generally fulfilled by one and / or the other of the end grids, fitted with rod clamping springs for this purpose.
  • the other function is fulfilled by at least the intermediate grids.
  • FR-A-2 594 998 a grid comprising a hexagonal belt and three sets of plates fixed to the belt, the plates of each set being parallel to each other and making an angle of 120 ° with the plates of the other games.
  • FR-A-2 145 676 or EP-A-0 239 441 is a fuel assembly having an external casing extending throughout the assembly, in which structures are distributed longitudinally, at regular intervals. holding pencils.
  • Each structure comprises two sets of plates, the plates of one set being parallel to two opposite faces of the housing and making an angle of 120 ° with those of the other set, so as to define cells with a diamond-shaped section whose the axes are distributed in a triangular network.
  • the pads of one set are offset longitudinally relative to those of the other set and the two sets are secured to the housing.
  • This solution implies the presence of a box.
  • the structures are not isotropic from the mechanical point of view. As in the previous case, the same structure has a large number of different plates.
  • the present invention aims to provide a grid of the type defined above of simple manufacture and mechanically isotropic structure, which may comprise only a single sheet of wafers, despite the presence of three sets of wafers.
  • the invention notably proposes a grid characterized in that all the plates of the same set have the same length, are folded at 120 ° in the middle and are parallel to two successive faces of the belt.
  • the plates of the three sets are advantageously entangled to form a single bed and delimit the cells each intended to guide a pencil and the major part of which is in the form of a diamond.
  • the plates may be provided to apply directly to the pencils.
  • the plates will generally be flat, except when it is desirable to produce a very tight network, in which case the plates can be corrugated at the spacing of the rods along the plates.
  • the plates may also include bosses limiting the movement of the rods. Finally, they can be fitted with mixing fins.
  • the invention also aims to provide a fuel assembly of hexagonal section, without external housing, usable in particular in a sub-moderated and / or variation of spectrum reactor cooled and moderated with light water, the holding structure of which is consisting of two substructures, one of which includes one of the end pieces (generally the upper end piece), part of the guide tubes, the pencil support grid (which is rigidly fixed to the guide tubes of the substructure) and grids for centering the pencils and possibly for homogenizing and / or supporting pencils of the kind which has just been defined.
  • a split in two substructures is described for example in documents EP-A-214,895 and EP-A-307,320 to which reference may be made.
  • a grid according to the invention can be used in particular in a fuel assembly of hexagonal section with two sub-structures, such as the assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1, where only a few fuel rods 14 are shown. .
  • the support structure consists of two upper end 16 and lower 18 pieces and guide tubes 20 and 24 replacing the rods at some of the nodes of the rod network.
  • the first substructure comprises the guide tubes 20, the upper end piece 16 and a plate 23 movable in the lower end piece 18.
  • the guide tubes pass through the bottom 22 of the end piece 18, in which they can slide vertically.
  • the first substructure also comprises the upper end grid 12, intended to carry the fuel rods 14 and provided for this purpose with means for clamping the rods, as well as at least some of the intermediate grids 13.
  • the lower end grid can also be fixed to the guide tubes 20.
  • the solidarisatlon of the guide tubes 20 of the first substructure, of the grid 12 and of the bottom of the upper end piece 16 is indicated by crosses in FIG. 1.
  • the second substructure comprises the lower end part 20, the other guide tubes 24 and a plate 28 movable vertically in the frame-shaped part of the upper end part 16, above the bottom 22 of the part 16.
  • the guide tubes 24 pass through this bottom in which they can slide.
  • the second substructure may also include a central instrumentation tube 29.
  • Springs 30, four in number for example, are placed between the plate 23 and flanges 32 provided in the lower part of the frame of the lower end piece 18. These springs exert on the plate 23 a force tending to maintain it resting on the bottom of the plate 18. Rods 34 fixed to the lower end piece 18 guide the springs 30 and the plate 23.
  • the refrigerant exerts on the first substructure a force which tends to apply more the upper end piece 16 against the upper core plate 38.
  • the force that the refrigerant exerts on the second substructure is absorbed by the springs 30 without lifting the lower end piece 18.
  • the intermediate grids 13, intended to hold the rods at the nodes of a triangular network, can be devoid of springs for supporting the pencils and have the constitution shown in Figures 2 and 3.
  • Each grid is made up of several sets of plates which are all made of an alloy with low neutron absorption, generally based on zirconium.
  • the grid 13 can be viewed as comprising a belt 40 and plates defining cells each intended to receive a pencil 14, only one of which is shown schematically in FIG. 2.
  • the belt can be constituted by a strip of sheet metal of zirconium alloy folded to have the shape of a hexagon or by sections of strips each having a length equal to that of one side of the belt, these sections being interconnected by welding, for example by electron beam or by laser beam .
  • the internal plates 44, 46 and 48 belong to three sets intertwined at 120 ° from one another. All these plates extend between two opposite faces of the belt and have an angle of 120 ° in their middle. They will generally constitute a single bed, obtained by entangling the plates 44, 46 and 48. For this purpose, slots 50 whose length is equal to half the width of the plates are provided in the latter. It is obviously necessary for at least one of the sets of plates 44, 46 and 48 to have slots directed in opposite directions on either side of the median fold of the plate. In the illustrated case, the plates 44 are reversed on the plates 46 and 48 already assembled. The plates once entangled are permanently joined, for example by welding points at the crossings, according to a well known technology.
  • the pads 42 which constitute the latter may have openings 52 intended to receive studs (not shown) extending the terminal edges of the pads 44, 46 and 48 .
  • the plates can be provided with rigid or elastic support means on the rods.
  • These supports can be bosses formed by deformation of the plates themselves with the press, deformed and repelled tongues, or added springs, which makes it possible in particular to constitute a grid having plates made of zirconium-based alloy and springs in an alloy of the "Inconel" type, having better mechanical strengths but in return a higher neutron absorption.
  • the plates or at least the internal plates 44, 46 and 48) can have a wavy shape with a pitch of distribution of the rods when it is desired to reduce this pitch.
  • dimples can be provided on all types of cells (diamond, chevron, hexagonal).
  • the support is less necessary for the central hexagonal cell, since it is generally intended for an instrumentation tube.
  • Figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D show, by way of example, various forms of usable bosses, formed by cutting and local insertion of the plates, in the form of buttons 50 ( Figures 4A, 4B and 4C) or bridges 52 ( Figures 4B and 4D).
  • Bosses 50 can be provided on the wall of the central hexagonal cell, to center the instrumentation tube 56.
  • the cells can be provided with means of axial retention of the rods, constituted by springs attached to the plates or cut from the plates, as in the case of current grids.
  • the hexagonal cell shown schematically in Figures 5A and 5B comprises, in addition to two bosses 52, a spring 58 produced by stamping a plate, deformation of the stamped part and terminal welding at 60.
  • the spring 58 could as well be added.
  • Figure 6 shows a chevron cell comprising two bosses 50 and two springs 58 added or formed by stamping. In all cases, the presence of points or a weld bead increases the mechanical resistance of the grid.
  • the rod 14 is held by springs 60 having the same shape as the bosses in bridge 52, but cut. This same type of spring could be used in chevron cells.
  • FIG. 8 shows, by way of example, a diamond-shaped cell comprising two fins 62 constituted by tabs adjoining the plates, on one edge of the latter, and folded.
  • the surface of such fins 62 can be greater than that found in grids where each cell is hexagonal, because the space available between pencil and wafer is greater.
  • Such fins can be provided on cells also having bosses and / or springs for centering and / or holding the rods.
  • FIG. 9 shows, by way of example, the orientation and circulation of the fluid threads which allow the fins of the kind shown in FIG. 8 to be produced.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Monitoring And Testing Of Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Pressure Vessels And Lids Thereof (AREA)
EP91401204A 1990-05-10 1991-05-07 Kernbrennstabbündelabstandhalter mit Dreiecksmuster und Anwendung in Kernbrennstabbündel Expired - Lifetime EP0460982B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9005820 1990-05-10
FR9005820A FR2662010B1 (fr) 1990-05-10 1990-05-10 Grille pour assemblage combustible nucleaire a reseau et assemblage en comportant application.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0460982A1 true EP0460982A1 (de) 1991-12-11
EP0460982B1 EP0460982B1 (de) 1994-06-22

Family

ID=9396461

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91401204A Expired - Lifetime EP0460982B1 (de) 1990-05-10 1991-05-07 Kernbrennstabbündelabstandhalter mit Dreiecksmuster und Anwendung in Kernbrennstabbündel

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US5174950A (de)
EP (1) EP0460982B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH05346475A (de)
CZ (1) CZ279657B6 (de)
DE (1) DE69102589T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2055557T3 (de)
FR (1) FR2662010B1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2715760A1 (fr) * 1992-10-29 1995-08-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp Assemblage de combustible incluant des ailettes déflectrices pour dévier une composante d'un courant de fluide s'y écoulant.
FR2715761A1 (fr) * 1992-10-29 1995-08-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp Procédé pour fabriquer une grille d'assemblage combustible nucléaire et grille à l'aide de ce procédé.

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6519309B1 (en) * 2000-06-29 2003-02-11 Framatone Anp Inc. Pressurized water reactor fuel assembly spacer grid

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1386424A (en) * 1972-03-15 1975-03-05 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Locating grids
EP0065613A1 (de) * 1981-05-14 1982-12-01 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Abstandsgitter für Kernbrennstäbe
EP0181264A1 (de) * 1984-11-05 1986-05-14 Framatome Abstandshalter mit Mischfahnen für ein Kernbrennstoffbündel
US4714585A (en) * 1985-03-15 1987-12-22 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Interlocking egg-crate type grid assembly
EP0307320A1 (de) * 1987-09-11 1989-03-15 Framatome Brennelementbündel mit Durchflussaufteilung

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2426312A1 (fr) * 1978-05-19 1979-12-14 Framatome Sa Dispositif de maintien transversal des barreaux combustibles d'un assemblage pour reacteur nucleaire
US4547335A (en) * 1981-02-10 1985-10-15 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Fuel rod support grid
FR2569489B1 (fr) * 1984-08-24 1989-12-08 Fragema Framatome & Cogema Grille d'espacement et de maintien et assemblage de combustible nucleaire en comportant application
FR2594998B1 (fr) * 1986-02-24 1988-06-10 Fragema Framatome & Cogema Grille pour assemblage de combustible nucleaire, et assemblage en comportant application
FR2616577B1 (fr) * 1987-06-09 1991-02-15 Framatome Sa Grille-entretoise pour un assemblage combustible d'un reacteur nucleaire a eau legere

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1386424A (en) * 1972-03-15 1975-03-05 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Locating grids
EP0065613A1 (de) * 1981-05-14 1982-12-01 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Abstandsgitter für Kernbrennstäbe
EP0181264A1 (de) * 1984-11-05 1986-05-14 Framatome Abstandshalter mit Mischfahnen für ein Kernbrennstoffbündel
US4714585A (en) * 1985-03-15 1987-12-22 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Interlocking egg-crate type grid assembly
EP0307320A1 (de) * 1987-09-11 1989-03-15 Framatome Brennelementbündel mit Durchflussaufteilung

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2715760A1 (fr) * 1992-10-29 1995-08-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp Assemblage de combustible incluant des ailettes déflectrices pour dévier une composante d'un courant de fluide s'y écoulant.
FR2715761A1 (fr) * 1992-10-29 1995-08-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp Procédé pour fabriquer une grille d'assemblage combustible nucléaire et grille à l'aide de ce procédé.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2055557T3 (es) 1994-08-16
DE69102589D1 (de) 1994-07-28
DE69102589T2 (de) 1994-11-17
FR2662010B1 (fr) 1992-08-21
US5174950A (en) 1992-12-29
CZ279657B6 (cs) 1995-05-17
EP0460982B1 (de) 1994-06-22
FR2662010A1 (fr) 1991-11-15
JPH05346475A (ja) 1993-12-27
CS133891A3 (en) 1992-01-15

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